Knife sharpener



Oct. 8, 1940. J. A. MuRDocK 2,215,981

KNIFE SHARPENER Filed June 18, 1959 Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT NOFFICE KNIFE SHARPENER James A. Murdock, chicago, 111. Application June 18, 1938 Serial No. 214,522

1 Claim.

This invention relates to knife Sharpeners and has for its principal object the provision of a I simple and effective knife Sharpener which can be very readily constructed and operated.

The invention will readily be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a Sharpener em bodying the invention being used, I

Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof,

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary elevational Views showing the relation of the sharpening plates vduring use,

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on the line B-Ii of Fig. 3. f l Referring to the drawing, the Sharpener com- 20 prises two similar plates I0 of hard tool steel or other suitable metal of requisite hardness. Each plate I0 comprises a main body portion II and a strip portion I2 which is in alignment with the lower marginal portion of the main body portion II.

Each of the plates IIJ is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the flattened end I3 of a baillike handle I`4. This handle may suitably be formed fromy a stout metal rod which is bent 3G into bail-like form and is preferably waisted to provide a suitable handle, whereby the Sharpener may be firmly` held during use.

As will be clearly seen in the drawing, the two plates I0 are located in opposition with each lower 35 extension or strip portion I2 overlying the lower portion of the main body portion lI I. For this reason the two plates IIJ are located in adjacent vertical planes as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Each of the strip portions I2 has rigidly mounted 40 thereon a rivet VI5 whichextends freely through a `slot I6 in the body portion II of the other` plate Ill. The openings I6 are elongated in the transverse direction `of thej tool as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4 to provide for a slight relative mo- 45 tion between the plates. I

The edge I1 of each of the plates I0, that is the inner edge of the main body portion II, which extends upwardly from `the projecting portion I2,

is located approximately in the axis of the tool and it slopes outwardly to a slight extent relative to that axis. The two edges I1 overlie and 5 cross each other as shown in Figs.` 2, 3 and 4. The ends of the handle I4 are biased inwardly so that the rivets I5 are normally located in the outer ends of the slots I6. When the plates I0 are in this relative position, the two edges I1 pro- 10 vide a small V for the reception of the edge of a knife which is to be sharpened. When the knife is pressed into the slot the plates III are forced relatively outwardly to a slight extent and the rivets I5 move to the inner ends ofthe slots lI6 as 15 l shown in Fig. 4.

In operation the handle I4 is grasped by one hand and the knife is inserted in the V slot and drawn forwardly. The handle should be inapplied to the knife it is forcedmore deeply into the V slot enlarging the same. Thus considerable pressure is applied to the cutting edges I1 and the location of the sharpening is varied continuously, wherebylocalized wear on the .edges I1 iS 25 avoided.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that Such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except as Set forth in the accompanying claim.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim is:

A knife sharpener comprising two plates in adjacent and partially superposed relation, said plates having overlapping and relatively inclined edges forming an acute V Slot, rivet means connecting said plates to provide limited sliding relative movement to enlarge and contract said slot,

said rivet means passing through a hole in one plate and an overlying slot in the adjacent plate, and a bail-like handle having its ends secured to said plates whereby the handle when grasped tends to move the plates to contract the Slot.

JAMES A. MURDOCK.

clined forwardly at a slight angle. As weight is 20 

